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Can You Use Range Cord for Dryer? (Read This First!)

Who doesn’t use dryers these days, right? They have become a must-have appliance in our households. That being said, the cord for the dryers can get damaged due to various reasons.

It might already have happened with you and you might not have extra dryer cords available. So, you might be wondering if you can use a range cord for the dryer. Read on to find out if you can use a dryer using a range cord.

Can you use range cord for dryer?

To power up a dryer, you can quite comfortably use a range cord. This is due to the fact that the range cord can handle a much higher amperage than a drying machine requires. However, the receptacles of the dryer and cord will have to match so that proper grounding can be done.

A dryer requires an electric current of 7.5 amps to 30 amps, 30 amps being the most common. Then again, the range cords can handle 40 to 50 amps of electric current. As a result, you can use a range cord for the dryer without any issues.

Since the electrical range cord can handle a much higher electrical current than the drying machine, the cord won’t burn due to electric overload. So, it is totally safe to use a range cord on a dryer.

There are various types of range cords available. Each type of range cord has different functionality and capacity. Let’s take a look at which range cords you can use for a dryer.

3 prong range cord:

The 3 prong range cord can be used for dryers without any complications. It contains all the necessary wires to provide power to a drying machine.

Most of the houses built in the mid-90s have 3 prong outlets. So, you will find this type of outlet quite often.

The 3 prong range cord contains two hot prongs, with which it feeds 220 or 240 volts into the dryer. The red and black wires are used for hot wires.

In the 3 prong cord, the ground and neutral wires are connected together in the same prong. As a result, there is a chance for the wire’s current to flow onto the ground wire, thereby electrifying the dryer. In such a case, if you touch the dryer, you can get shocked.

4 prong range cord:

The 4 prong range cord is a safer and more reliable option for using for a dryer. This is because the ground and neutral wires are separated on this cord. So, there is no chance for the current to flow into the ground wire.

Each plug has two flat hot wires on either side and a round ground wire at the top. In addition, each plug’s neutral wire has a different shape, just like the 3 prong cords’.

50 amp range cord:

The usual electric requirement of the drying machines’ is 30 amp. So, you can use a 50 amp range cord for a dryer without any risk of damaging the appliance due to electric overflow.

However, if the dryer uses more than 50 amperage, which is quite rare, you can’t use a 50 amp range cord. In that case, you will have to look for a cord that has a higher amperage capacity.

Will a range cord work for a dryer? Can I use a 50 amp range cord for a 30 amp dryer?

A range cord will definitely work for a dryer. This is because the range cords are engineered to pass electricity into the appliance as well, similar to every other cord. So, the range cords have the capability to power up the drying machines.

The range cord is in fact engineered in such a way that it can pass an electric current of very high amperage without any issues. As a result, there will be minimal chance of electrical accidents occurring due to using the range cords for a dryer.

If the amperage capacity of a cord is higher than what an appliance needs, you can use that cord for that appliance. You can use any range cord with a higher amp capacity for a dryer. Needless to say, you can use a 50 amp range cord for a 30 amp dryer.

3 reasons you can use range cord for dryer

You can power a dryer using a range cord for numerous reasons. You can use a range cord for the dryer because there will be fewer chances of accidents, or it will provide proper grounding. You can also utilize a range cord for the dryer as it is quite easy to replace.

Let’s take a look at the reasons why you can use a range cord for the dryer in detail.

Proper grounding:

The range cords are engineered in such a way that they can run large appliances without any issue. To power up the large appliances without leaking any electricity into the unit, proper grounding is ensured in the range cord. As a result, by using a range cord for the dryer, you will have proper grounding for your dryer.

Lower chances of electrical accidents:

The range cord is comparatively more capable of passing high electric current than the dryer cords. As a result, the range cords will be able to pass current to the dryer without any issues. In fact, since the dryer has a higher amperage capacity, there will be a very low chance of electrical accidents occurring because of connecting the dryer.

Easy to replace:

The range cord is similar to the dryer cord with just a high amp capacity. If your dryer cord is burned out or damaged, you can quite easily replace the cord with a range cord.

Range cord vs. Dryer cord – What are the differences

Although the range cord and dryer cord can transmit the same amount of electric power, they are quite different from each other. The amperage ratings of the cords are different from each other. The prongs of the range cord and dryer cord are also different.

Have a look at the differentiating factors between range cord and dryer cord:

Amp rating:

The range cord has a high amp rating as they are made to power a high current consuming appliance. Whereas, the dryer cord is lower amp rated as the electrical current requirement of dryers is not that high.

Generally, the range cord has a 50 amps rating and the dryer cord is rated at about 30 amps. So, the amperage rating is a huge differentiating factor between the range cord and dryer cord.

Prong:

The neutral prong is also a major differentiating factor between the range cord and dryer cord. The neutral prong of the dryer cord is L-shaped, but the neutral prong of the range cord is straight.

The neutral prong of the dryer cord is L-shaped for both the three-prong outlet receptacle and four-prong outlet receptacle. This difference between the dryer and range cord can be easily identified by simply unplugging the cords.

How to install a range cord on a dryer?

Installing a range cord on a dryer is not as complicated as it may seem to you at first. The process is just like installing a dryer cord on a dryer. You will just have to follow the process patiently in order to make the installation process effortless and successful.

Let’s have a look at how you can install a range cord on a dryer.

Open the wire connection block:

Firstly you will have to locate the electrical cover plate of the dryer. The cover plate is normally located on the back of the dryer, near a hole in the back panel.

After locating the connection block, open the cover using a screwdriver. After opening the wire connection block, you will find the wiring block for cord connections.

Connect the wires:

The dryer cord should be connected to the opening near the terminal box. You should put the green wire underneath the ground screw and then tighten the screw using a screwdriver. Connect the white wire to the center terminal, which is the neutral block.

The left and right terminals of the center terminal are interchangeable as they are both hot terminals. You should connect the black wire to either the right or left terminal. You should then install the red wire into the hot terminal that still doesn’t have any connection.

Secure the cords:

After connecting the wires into their respective terminals, make sure to secure them properly. You can secure the wires by tightening the screws in which they are placed by using screwdrivers.

Final Thoughts

You can use a range cord for dryers as long as the receptacle of the plug matches. This is possible because the range cord uses a 220/240 volts circuit, just like the dryer cord. The range cord also has a higher current rating, so there will be no issue with the connection.